Christmas Table Topper

An Island Batik Adventure

The Island Batik Ambassador project for December is a scrappy table topper. Oh good – I have been wanting to do a Christmas table runner – perfect opportunity! I wanted something festive yet peaceful. Not the usual red, whites and greens. I pulled out all the blue Island Batiks, mostly from the Blue Moon collection and was taken in with how pretty they all were! And doesn’t the touch of purple compliment it all so well?

This was going to be a project to be sewn at retreat, so it couldn’t be very complicated. A string quilt seemed the perfect answer. I chose to do four large rectangles and used muslin as a base. Then the fun began – First, I cut various size strips, half inch to one and one half inches. I sewed, and sewed and sewed! There are times I just love mindless sewing. I find it so relaxing!

After some simple quilting, choosing an applique design was next. Christmas trees, snowflakes, stars, snowmen or ornaments? Nothing seemed right. Snowmen would work, but I was going for peaceful, not cutesy. At Thanksgiving my daughter brainstormed with me, we auditioned fabrics for the applique, and with her help –  Ah ha! White Poinsettias! After fusing all the Poinsettia leaves, I stitched and quilted using silver threads.

I loved the look. The centers of the poinsettias needed berries. I hunted through all my beads but nothing seemed quite right. After a lot of time at the bead shop, I found the silver disks and Swarovski crystals. Nothing like crystals to brighten up a piece!

This table runner is now on my dining table and I absolutely love it – a wonderful representation of the Joy and Peace of Christmas.

Not much time left to finish up projects – am really pleased with the progress to date!

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